Circuit switching timer



1934- R. D. SMITH 1,984,204

CIRCUIT SWITCHING TIMER Filed April 14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l 7 Dec. 11 1934. R D, sMn-H 1,984,204

CIRCUIT SWITCHING TIMER Filed April '14, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ii N E INVENTOR Dec. 11, 1934. D, s rfH 1,984,204

CIRCUIT SWITCHING TIMER Filed April 14, 1927 4 s t s t 3 Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to an operating arrangement of stationary and movable electrical contacts for efltecting various circuit switching controls and particularly relates to the operation of such contacts by timing mechanism. These improvements are particularly concerned with the employment of two or more individual devices which may be actuated through the common source of power of a timing motor for permitting and stopping, or for switching, or altering the flow of some medium to some common point where same may be utilized. The medium may be an electric current to control which the said devices may take the form of electric switches of any suitable kind, or the medium may be a fluid such as air, illuminating or other gas, water or steam, to control which the devices referred to may take the form of valves of any suitable kind.

Examples of time limit switches and time limit valves employing the general type of timing motor and time setting means here concerned are disclosed in several of my co-pending applications including those serially numbered 150,278 and 208,547, in which applications a single switch or valve unit is caused to perform a plurality of successive automatic actions under time control in order by one setting of the device to effect a plurality of automatic alterations in the condition of flow of the medium to be controlled.

When power to effect two or more such automatic actions must be applied and stored by the mere act of turning time pointers to a selected time setting, which characterizes the type of timing mechanism here dealt with, I find this power greater than should be required from the hand of the user in the case of some types of switches and valves I wish to employ, and the present improvements provide an arrangement by which the turning of the time pointer is made easier for setting the time.

I divide the work tobe done and the power to be exerted between two separate switches, valves, or other devices to be worked upon and render each of same respectively operable by a separate time setting handle, but I arrange them and so connect them in their flow governing capacity that they shall be jointly as well as separately operative upon a common medium thereby to regulate the flow of said medium to some common point where same is to be utilized such as to the heating unit of an electric range or to the burners of a gas stove.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a front view of a completernechanism embodying electrical circuit switching contacts adapted for manual or time controlled operation as desired and illustrative of certain of the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at the left of Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away more clearly to show the construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the plane 3--3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view looking upwardly at Fig. 1 the switches being shown in section on the planes 4-i-44.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the front switch in Fig. 1 together with a portion of the timing mechanism that operates the same, the full line position of parts corresponding to the normal position of the timer when the time setting pointers are at zero.

Fig. 6 shows the switch mechanism of Fig. 5 at an intermediate position in the throw of the switch.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the switch mechanism taken on the plane 7-7 in Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken in section on the plane 88 in Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a diagram or" the electric circuit including the arrangementof switch contacts structurally represented in l, 2. 4, 5, 6 and '7 and includes a diagrammatic representation of the position of the time setting pointers corresponding to the positions of the said contacts together with an automatic signal device shown structurally in Figs. 26, 27 and 28 giving visible information as to the condition of the circuit. All parts of the timer here represented are shown as positioned in normal or zero setting of the time pointers.

Fig. 10 shows the parts of Fig. 9 as they are positioned upon removing one time pointer from zero.

- Fig. 11 shows the position of parts when both time pointers are removed from zero.

Fig. 12 shows a modification of one of the time pointers which permits said pointer to be displaced from zero without first displacing the handle pointer, a condition impossible to Figs. 9, 1! and 11, and shows the corresponding effect upon the switch contacts and the indicator mechanism.

Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive are respectively like Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive as to the setting of the time pointers and there is shown in each of said figures a circuit arrangement and corresponding positioning of electrical contacts and indicator mechanism which produces the reverse or opposite effect relative to that in Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive in regard to making and breaking the circuit.

Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive are again respectively like Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive with respect to the time pointers but here a circuit arrangement is shown Wh.lll electrical contacts are operated by the timer selectively to break the circuit to either or both of two separate loads which may singly be connected into circuit and the marking on the indicator mechanism is changed to accord.

Fig. 21 shows the time setting handle in Fig. 1 equipped with a stop which may be shifted to be operative or inoperative in permitting said handle to be impelled by the time movement to zero position.

Fig. 22 is a view in elevation looking at the right of Fig. 21 showing the stop in inoperative position.

23 shows the stop of Fig. 22 shifted to operative position.

24 shows the structural modification of the switches in Fig. 4 to correspond with the circuit arrangement and mode of operation represented in 13 to 16 inclusive.

Fig. shows a structural modification of the switches in Fig. i to correspond with the circuit arrangement and mode of operation represented in Figs. 1"! to 20 inclusive.

Fig. 26 is a front View of the frame plate of the timer shown in Fig. 1 modified to have a window or opening in conjunction with which certain si nals may operate to show the condition of the circuit as represented in Figs. 9 to 20 inclusive and in Figs. 30, 31 and 32.

2'7 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2 and looking at the right of Fig. 26 and showing the parts of the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 28 is a sectional view on the plane 2828 in Fi 26, lookin in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 29 shows a structural modification of the switches in Fig. 4 whereby either one or the other of two loads is always connected in circuit in whatever position the time pointers may occupy.

Figs. 30 to 32 inclusive are respectively like Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive in respect to the positioning of the time pointers but show a suitable circuit arrangement for effecting the electrical result described the purpose of the switch construction shown in 29 and showing indicator markings to correspond.

Fig. 33 represents diagrammatically a useful application or" the circuit arrangement in Figs.

to 32 inclusive and shows the movable contacts positioned to correspond with position of the time pointers in Fig. 12.

34 is a diagram of the wiring connections shown in Fig. 33 with the two magnet coils of the relay switch added to the circuits, and with the ans for switching the current back and forth between said magnet coils represented diagrammatically as a simple double throw switching device in place of the more complicated arrangement of contacts disclosed in the other figures.

Throughout the drawings different views of the same part are designated by the same referswitch units designated respectively as 10 and 11 similarly constructed and composed of respectively insulating bodies 12 and 13 which may be built up of laminations as shown, molded, or otherwise suitably produced and carrying the individually insulated pairs of binding posts 14 and 15 for switch 10 and 16 and l? for switch 11 each of which pairs of binding posts may be cut from suitable conductive sheet metal and provided at their outer extremities with binding post screws l8, 19, 2D and 21 and med in another portion to extend beyond the walls of the insulating bodies 10 and 11 thereby to be conductively bridged in certain positions of the switch mechanism by the contact roller 22 of switch 10 and contact roller 23 of switch 11.

Each of. contact rol ers 22 and 23 are snapped to and away from a position to conductively bridge its pair of stationary binding posts by a spring toggle mechanism of the same kind so that a description of one of said toggle mecha nisms will suflice to make clear the operating connection between the fork 24 of switch 10 and the fork 25 of switch 11 both of which forks are pivoted upon a common spindle 26 passing through the steel frame 27 of switch 10 and the frame 28 of switch 11 which frames are screwed or otherwise rigidly secured respectively to hold the switch body 12 and switch body 13 but entirely insulated thereby from the four binding posts 14, 15, 16 and 17. Spindle 26 is threaded at each end to receive the front mounting bushing 29 and the rear mounting bushing 30 the former of which is supported in the front frame plate 31 of the timer and the latter of which is supported in the rear frame plate 32, switches 10 and 11 being further held and rigidly positioned by top plates 33 and 34 each of which is rigidly secured to both switch frames 27 and 28 by screws 35 and said top plates bear against the two lower of four frame posts 36 which space and hold together the front frame plate 31 and rear frame plate of the timer.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and '7 the mechanism by which fork 24 operates roller 22 with a snap action in each direction comprises two upright parallel plates 37 at either side of the lower extremity of fork 24 and provided with an open ended longitudinal slot 38 engaged by a transverse pin 39 carried rigidly by fork 24 and in the intermediate position of parts in Fig. 6 made to compress the coiled spring 40 which 1s retained between a sliding washer 41 and a fixed washer 42 of insulating material supported by the ledge formation given to the half round bottom portion of the upright insulating plates 3'7, which plates bear down and are fulcrumed upon the central portion of reduced diameter of the roller 22 the largerend portions of which roll back and forth between the dotted and full line positions in Fig. 5 upon the concave race or track of the insulating body 12 into and away from the full line position in Fig. 5 wherein roller 22 contacts with and conductively bridges binding posts 14 and 15.

Fork 24 is shifted. between its dotted line positions in Fig. 5 more or less projecting finger 43 adjustably secured to the periphery of timing disc 44 by the screw 45, the disc i l being analogous in performance as operated by the timing mechanism to the cam 20 so designated in applicants co-p cation, Serial No. 675,419, filed l love v as will hereinafter be briefly described.

and full In a like manner fork 25 is similarly shifted back and forth by the projecting finger 46 adjustably secured to the periphery of timing disc 4'! by the screw 48, disc 47 being analogous in its performance to the cam 21 in the above mentioned co-pending application. The slow shifting of forks 24 and 25 results in each switch in a snap action of the contact roller to and from its contact bridging position as shown for instance in Fig. 5 inasmuch as the contact roller does not start to move in either direction until just after the dead center alignment of parts is passed as shown, for instance, in Fig. 6 where the fork has already completed somewhat more than half of its travel to the right and where the roller is just about to leave its position and snap to the full line position in Fig. 5 under the quick impulse of the compression spring.

A variety of arrangements of stationary contacts, binding posts and circuit connections are possible to the individual and combined reciprocative movements of the two contact rollers 22 and 23 some of which are illustrated in Figs. 9 to 20 inclusive, 24, 25 and 29 to 33 inclusive in all of which it will be appreciated that every current switching action either of roller 22 or 23 is a positive snap action desirable to the operation of electric switches to prevent arcing and particularly advantageous in electric switches controlled by slow moving timing mechanism and especially when such mechanism is arranged to exert the force which actually impels and operates the switch.

With such current switching means as have above been described a wide variety of circuit switching effects may be had through merely varying the sequence of operation of the contact rollers 22 and 23 and means are therefore at hand for producing with little modification of structure a considerable scope of automatically timed electrical effects combined with direct mechanical actuation of the switch independent of time control when and as desired. This will be equally true of any form of reciprocating switch whether or not snap acting, many of which are of radically different construction than that here chosen for purposes of illustration only and all such will clearly be understood to come within the scope of the present novel arrangement and improvements.

Any kind of timing mechanism capable of operating the switch forks 24 and 25 or either thereof may be employed in utilizing the advantage of the circuit switching mechanisms herein described and with or without means for manipulating said forks without the medium of time control when desired. I have chosen herein to illustrate a timing mechanism almost identical in its main features of construction and operation to that in my co-pending application, Serial No. 675,419 before referred to, and as reference may be had for the more particular details to that application, I shall herein describe somewhat briefiy the major features.

Supported between front plate 31 and rear plate 32 is a system of rotary mechanism shown seetioned in Fig. 3 and in edgewise elevation in Fig. 2 and which includes the time determining means and has operated and operating connection with the time movement in the main shown by broken lines inside the casing 55 by means of a pinion 56 recessed at the forward end of its hub to bear on the stud 57 and having its rear hub journaled in the rear frame plate 32 and provided with a square hole fitting the square terminus of winding spindle 58 of the time movement which is impelled in a clockwise direction in Fig. l by the power spring 59. In the present application of this timing mechanism power spring 59 supplies the power that operates the switches as will be plain from the description to follow.

The time setting mechanism shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 8 is comprised of two concentric and quite similar sets of parts mounted to turn with or upon the main shaft 60. Each of these sets of parts derives its timing movement from variable and releasable drive connection to a central gear 61 loose upon shaft 60, constantly in mesh with pinion 56 and flanked by two ratchet toothed wheels 62 and 63 mounted on said gear to turn fixedly therewith.

One of the two sets of parts turning upon shaft 66 comprises in fixed rotative relation on said shaft the handle pointer 64 at the forward end and the release dog 65 at the rear end. Impelled positively by release dog 65 is the timer disc 47 through engagement of a forwardly bent tongue 66 with an opening 67 in the disc 47 permitting a degree of lost motion or limited relative movement between release dog 65 and the disc 4'7. Disc 4'7 is further provided with a pawl 68 pivoted thereon at 69 so as to fall into engagement with the ratchet teeth on wheel 63 being yieldingly urged into such engagement by the spring 70 and displaceable therefrom through the limited relative movement between disc 47 and release dog 65 which permits the finger portion '71 of dog 65 to urge the operating ear '72 on pawl 68 to the right looking from the left at Fig. 2. This permits disc 47 to be rotated freely in either direc tion by turning pointer 64 and when undisturbed through manipulation of said pointer, disc 47 is positively impelled in a contra-clockwise direction in Fig. 1 by the running of the time movement until something occurs to impede the free travel of the release dog 65 in which event the travel of said dog may be arrested and the gear 61 with its ratchet wheel 63 may continue its contra-clockwise rotation because as each tooth of the ratchet wheel comes to bear pressure upon the pawl 68 the increment of rotative travel of disc 47 resulting will press finger 71 against the stationary operating ear 72 and lift the pawl to permit the free passage of the ratchet tooth. Release dog 65 is so arrested in its travel contra-clockwise when pointer 64 reaches its vertical upward or zero position through interception of the lower bent terminus '73 by the swing stop 74 limited in its swing by one of abutments '75 and 76 respectively on the rear frame plate 32 and front plate 31, the stop 74 being pivoted on the mounting bushing 30. See Fig. 4.

A similar co-action and relation of parts is comprised in the bearing hub '77 carrying fixedly thereon the time pointer '78 outside the frame plate 31 and the release dog 79 fixedly thereon inside the frame plate 31, said dog '79 co-acting with the timer disc 44 and its pawl 80 in the same manner as above described with reference to release dog 65 timer disc 47 and pawl 68, the ratchet wheel 62 in this case oo-acting with pawl 80 as ratchet wheel 63 co-acts with pawl 68. See Fig. -8. The time dial 81 may have any markings consistent with its purpose and may be mounted on the front face of frame plate 31 as fixed or as rotatable for computing time in terms of the time of day. When this dial is made rotatable I may provide a zero marker on frame plate 31 as a fixed point from which to compute the time setting. The winding of the power spring 59 is effected through the engagement of a pin 82 in shaft 60 with the flip stop 83 in gear 61. The flip stop 83 has limited swinging movement but cannot be passed in either direction by the shaft pin 82 which latter except for its winding engagement with flip stop 83 because of falling in the path thereof, can turn freely in the annular recess in the side of gear 61 and thereby permit free rotation of shaft 60 relative to gear 61 substantially to the extent of one full turn so far as hip stop 83 and shaft pin 82 are alone concerned. To insure starting of the movement an agitator 88 may be pivoted to the movement frame at 85 and have a projection 86 for operating same extending through the rear frame plate 32 to be thrown against the balance wheel 87 or other delicate part of the movement by the starter finger 84 carried by disc 47 and arranged to actuate the agitator 88 when the time pointer is being moved away from zero position by hand. These parts comprising the mechanism for insuring starting of the time movement may be identical with the corresponding mechanism disclosed in Fig. '7 of the drawings in my co-pending application 62 5.419 that it will be here observed that the starter finger 84 is carried by the positively im ed cam 47 rather than by the releasably impelled 66 to insure that the resistance by wiper 86 shall not release clutch 63-458.

To the above timing mechanism which is more specifically described and claimed in others of my co-pending applications I herein prefer to add a feature to prevent the pointer handle 64 from being returned to zero position by the clock when so desired. Conveniently this may take the form of a simple U-bent clip pivoted by an eyelet 101 and frictionally held wherever positicnec. As positioned in Figs. 2 and 22 on the pointer handle 64 it will be seen that the stop clip 166 clears and is free to pass the upstanding part 102 of the pointer 78 but that when flipped to the position in Fig. 23 step clip 106 fails to clear the pointer handle 102 and may therefore serve as a means of preventing the return of pointer 64 to zero position.

It will be observed that the handle 102 of pointer 73 normally limits the positioning of pointer '78 to settings intermediate the setting of pointer 64 and the zero position inasmuch neither of said pointers may be moved to the left of their upward vertical position because of the stop action of the swinging stops 74 and 89, yet in Figs. 12, 16, 20 and 33 a time pointer corawn/l g to pointer '78 is indicated as having no and .g handle portion such as 102 and therefigures it is possible that pointer '23 may be displaced from zero while pointer 64 reat zero the purpose and effect of which hereinafter referred to.

In describing the action of the timer as a whole will be noticed in all of Figs. 9 to 26 inclusive well as in Figs. 30 to 33, the absolute and relative positioning of the movable contacts 22 and 23 are alike so the operation will first be described with reference merely to its effect upon the positioning and relationship of said movable contacts without regard to the electrical effects upon the circuits.

In the structure of Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive if we start with the normal or zero position of pointers 64 and '78 as indicated in Fig. 9 operating fingers 4. id 46 are seen to have positioned both switch cp ating forks 24 and 25 to the right limit of then; throw thereby positioning both contact rollers 22 and 23 likewise to the right. In Fig. 10 the clockwise displacement of pointer 64 from zero position is seen to have thrown the contact roller 23 to the left which requires only a small portion of the initial movement of disc 47 and its switch operating finger 46. In Fig. 11 it is seen that to also displace pointer 78 clockwise from zero position in a corresponding manner throws contact roller 22 to the left and upon each return and displacement of either pointer 64 or pointer '78 the corresponding positioning of the contact roller which it operates will obtain. There has before been mentioned the fourth and different relation of parts that may result from a modified form of pointer 78 permitting the latter alone to be displaced from zero, as shown in Figs. 12, 16, and 20.

With the above understanding of the movements and operation of contact rollers 22 and 23 the following arrangements of stationary contacts and their circuit connections will readily be understood to produce the circuit switching effects described.

In Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive the binding posts 14, 15, 16 and 17, constructed as in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive are shown all in electrical series; binding posts 15 and 17 being electrically connected by the conductive strap 110 and posts 14 and 16 being adapted to receive the circuit wires 111 and 112 either of which may be connected to the load and to the line respectively. In'Fig. 9 both time pointers are at zero and the circuit is broken because contact roller 23 is absent from posts 16 and 17. In Fig. 10 the OFF pointer only is displaced from zero and the circuit is closed by the resultant contacting of roller 23 with posts 16 and 17. In Fig. 11 ON pointer 78 is also displaced from zero which causes roller 22 to break the circuit by leaving contact with posts 14 and 15. In Fig. 12 the modified form of ON pointer 78' is alone displaced from zero so that both rollers 22 and 23 break contact but this will be seen to produce no different electrical effect upon the circuit than the condition in Figs. 9 and 11.

In Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive each of the switches 10 and 11 are individuallly constructed exactly as in Fig. 4 but they are assembled into the timer in relatively reverse positions as shown in Fig. 24 and a conductive strap 115 connects binding posts 15 and 16 while a similar strap 116 connects binding posts 14 and 17 it being designed that load wire 111 shall be connected to binding post 16 and line wire 112 be connected to post 14 or vice versa. By these connections contact posts 14 and 15, are seen to be in shunt relation to posts 16 and 17 so that the electrical connection of either of these two pairs of contacts by a contact roller suffices to make the cirsuit. In Fig. 13 both time pointers are at zero and the circuit is made. In Fig. 14 OFF pointer 64 alone is displaced from zero and the circuit is broken. In Fig. 15 both time pointers are displaced from zero and the circuit is again made. In Fig. 16 the effect upon the circuit is no different from that in Figs. 13 and 15.

In Figs. 17 to 20 switch 10 the construction of which is shown in Fig. 25 is modified from the construction shown in Fig. 4 to have two additional contact binding posts 120 and 121 and electrical connection is afforded by the conductive strap 122 between binding post 121 and post 15. In this arrangement a line wire L may be connected to binding post 16, one load A wire may be connected to binding post 14 and another load wire B may be connected to binding post 120.

In Fig. 17 with both time pointers at zero, power is cut off from both load A and load B. In Fig. 18 with the OFF pointer, alone, displaced from zero, power is furnished only to load A. In Fig. 19 with both time pointers displaced from zero power is supplied only to load B. In Fig. 20 power is cut off from both loads as in Fig. 17.

In Figs. 30 to 34, inclusive, switch 10 as well as switch 11", is furnished with two pairs of binding posts, the switch 10" carrying posts 125, 126, 127 and 128 and the switch 11" carrying posts 130, 131, 132 and 133, which may be of respectively similar construction to posts 125, 126, 127 and 128. A conductive strap 135 connects posts 127 and 128. A strap 136 connects posts 127 and 133. A strap 137 connects posts 132 and 126. A strap 138 connects posts 125 and 131. To illustrate a useful application of the switch and circuit arrangements in Figs. 29 to 32 inclusive there is shown in Figs. 33 and 34 a type of magnetically operated or relay switch 140 having two stationary load contacts 141 and 142 and two similar stationary line contacts 143 and 144; contact 141, 143 and contact 142, 144 being respectively connectable by the two conductive bridging members 145 and 146, respectively, which are mounted in insulated relation on the armature 147 slidable upon the post 148 to and away from the plane of contact as actuated by an electro magnet (155) in the circuit X to break the main circuit between the line and the load and as actuated by an electro magnet (156) in the circuit Z to make the main circuit between the line and the load. In some forms of such magnetically actuated or relay switches only momentary energization of the coil of the electro magnet is required to motivate the relay contacts 145 and 146 either to make or break the circuit but continued energization of such coil is in no way detrimental to the designed operation of the relay and may in fact be defeated by the mechanism of the relay itself.

Coming now to the method of circuit control by which the mechanism of the present improvements may act according to the construction in Fig. 29 and diagrams in Figs. 30 to 34 inclusive to alternately make and break a high powered circuit through the instrumentality of such a relay it will be understood that the momentary or permanent energization of circuit X motivates the circuit closing coil to draw down and hold the armature 147 and insulated contacts 145, 146 for contact with the four contact plates 141 to 144 inclusive and that the momentary or permanent energization of circuit Z motivates the circuit opening coil to lift up and hold away from said contact plates 141 to 144 said armature and its insulated contacts 145 and 146. Thus in Fig. 30 with both time pointers at zero, current is supplied from the line wire Y to circuit X only, and the magnetic switch 140 is conditioned to close the main circuit. In Fig. 31 where the OFF pointer alone is displaced from zero, circuit Z is alone energized which reverses the magnetic switch 140 to break the power circuit. In Fig. 32 both time pointers are displaced from zero and circuit X instead of circuit "Z is again energized to cause the magnetic switch 140 to break the main circuit. Although no diagram is shown paralleling Figs. 12, 16 and 20 wherein the ON pointer 78' alone is displaced from zero it will be appreciated that equivalent positioning of roller contacts 22 and 23 would obtain and that this would result in circuit X" alone being energized which would be an electrical condition similar to that in Fig. 30 or Fig. 32.

Inasmuch as to one not immediately acquainted with the operative characteristics of compound switch operation as hereinbefore disclosed, it might be confusing to rely solely upon the positioning of the time pointers for information as to the condition of the electrical circuits affected thereby, I have devised a clearly informative signal or indicator mechanism the mechanical parts of which may be as shown in Figs. 26, 27 and 28. First a window opening 140 is cut in the front frame plate 31 and pivoted at 141 above same is a front swinging signal 142 and a rear swinging signal 143 in back of which is a stationary bracket 144 which may carry an appropriate marking to register in window 140 when both signal 142 and 143 are out of register therewith. A spring 145 normally retracts signal 142 away from register with window 140 and signal 142 is forced into register with said window only by a pin 146 on disc 47 when OFF pointer 64 is at zero position. Likewise a spring 147 normally retracts signal 143 away from register with window 140 and signal 143 is forced into register with said window only by a pin 148 on disc 44 when ON pointer 78 is at zero position. Pin 146 acts against the rigid wire projection 149 carried by signal 142 and pin 148 acts against the rigid wire projection 150 carried by signal 143. From this brief description it will be appreciated that any desired wording or markings may be carried by the signals 142, 143, and 144 and those markings shown in Figs. 9 to 20 inclusive and 30 to 32 inclusive will be self explanatory as appropriate to the circuit conditions obtaining. Whereas this is a purely mechanical mechanism for assisting in the easy understanding of the operation it will be clear that a signal light or lights may well be used so connected in circuit that when the light shows the circuit is made and at other times broken. This would be all the indication needed in Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive and in Figs. 30, 31 and 32 but in Figs. 17 to 20 inclusive three different electrical conditions obtain and a different light or a differently colored light may be employed to indicate whether circuit A or circuit B is connected.

Attention is drawn to the possibility in Figs. 30 to 33 inclusive of reversing the circuit connections X and Z to reverse the action of the relay switch 140 relative to the positions of the time pointers so that in Fig. 30 and Fig. 32 for instance, the relay 140 would be conditioned to make rather than to break the main circuit, and in Fig. 31 to break rather than to make the main circuit. The indicator markings would naturally be changed to accord.

There are many additional possible arrangements and combinations of contacts and circuit connections but those herein illustrated will serve as examples to indicate the breadth and scope intended in the definition of my invention in the following claims and it will be understood that no restriction is intended as to the precise construction or arrangement of the essential elements enumerated in the claims.

While the foregoing description and the drawings to which it refers illustrate the principles of the present improvements as embodied in electric circuits and electric switches for controlling the same it will be clear that the flow of a fluid in a conduit bears a definite analogy, as to the method and means by which such flow may be controlled, to the flow of electricity in a circuit as is witnessed by the commonly employed comparison between the flow of water in pipe nd the flow of eectricity in a wire in teaching the elementary principles and be vior of electric current to the uninstructed. lit will therefore be appreciated that the novel principles of this invention which resid in autorni tic time control of such flow of electricity or of a fluid such as water inating through a conduit insofar as princip are independent or the particular structural and functional differences between, for instance, an electric switch and a valve are capable without the exercise of further invention of use to good advantage in connection with such valves which be substituted by a mechanic for the electric switches herein illustrated described.

Such of the following claims, therefore, as refer to circuit governing means operated by time control conter ate definitely this possible and useful employ -nt of valves as a substitute for the electric switches and will be so interpreted in carrying two operating levers concentrically roclrable in adjacent planes corresponding rec Cti /f313 to the of rotation of said timers,

permitting the engagement and disengageeach of said timers with its corr spondcwitch lever to rock the latter in both direcs, electrical contacts arranged to be alternately closed and opened by respectively reverse roc movement of each of said switch levers.

2. Time col trolled actuating mechanism embodyi j in combination, two timers concentrically rotatable in adjacent planes, two switches resoectively carrying two operating levers concen- ;cally roclrable in adjacent planes corresponding respecwely to the planes of rotation of said timers, means permitting the engagement and disengagement of each of said timers with its corresponding switch lever to rock the latter in both directions, electrical contacts arranged to be alternately closed and opened by respectively reverse rocking movement of each of said switch levers, said electrical contacts being connected so that rocking movements of said two switch levers jointly governs a common circuit.

Time controlled actuating mechanism embodying in combination, two timers concentrically in adjacent planes, two switches re specively carrying two operating levers concentrically rocirable in adjacent planes corresponding respectively to the planes of rotation of said timers, means permitting the engagement and disengage ent of each of timers with its correspond lg switch lever to rock the latter in both directions, mechanically separate circuit controlling niechanisms operated respectively by said two switch levers and each consisting of an insulating bod a spring toggle mechanism, a movable contact reciprocated with snap movement thereby, and a plurality of stationary contacts mounted upon said insulated body to be conductively bridged by said movable contact in designed positions of said switch levers.

4. In time controlled circuit governing mechanism, a time motor, a reciprocally movable actuator returnable to a starting position by said motor when manually displaced therefrom, an associated reciprocally movable actuator return:

able to a starting position by said motor when manually displaced therefrom, a snap toggle action electric switch having an operating extension pivoted for reciprocative movement and positioned to be swung back and forth by the reciprocal movements of one of said actuators, an associated snap toggle action electric switch having an operating extension pivoted for reciprocal movement and positioned to be swung back and forth by the reciprocative movement of the other or" said actuators, said two electric switches being electrically connected to produce predetermined electrical effects in a common circuit by their joint and separate actions as motivated by said two actuators, respectively.

5. In time controlled circuit governing mechanism, in combination, a time motor, two reciprocally movable actuators returnable to their respective starting positions by said motor when displaced therefrom, two snap toggle action electric switches each having an operating extension pivoted for reciprocative movement and positioned to be swung back and forth by a different one respectively, of said actuators, and separate clutch means operative selectively to connect either or both of said actuators to said time motor to be impelled thereby in adjustable relation to said motor and to each other, said two switches being electrically connected to produce predetermined electrical effects in a common circuit by their joint and separate actions as motivated by said two actuators.

6. In a timing mechanism including two concentric time pointers, means automatically to izrpel said pointers during the running of the ti ing mechanism and a stop carried by one or said pointers and shiftable to and away from a position to cause interception of the automatically impelled pointer movement.

In timing mechanism, a time setting combined pointer and wing handle upstanding therefrom, a stop member conforming approximately to the contour of a portion of said handle and eccentrically pivoted thereon to depart from the contour of said handle when purposely shifted thereby to intercept the travel of said handle.

8. In a time controlled actuating mechanism, in combination, a plurality of pointers normally stationed at zero position, current governing means arranged to be reversely actuated by movements of said pointers respectively to and away from their zero position, and signal means operated jointly in predetermined relation to the movements of said two pointers thereby to indicate the condition of said current governing means without inspection of the positions of said pointers.

9. In timing mechanism, in combination, one timer automatically returnable to zero position anothertimer automatically returnable to zero position, two current governors operated respectively by said timers, and means carried by one of said timers and shiftable to and away from a stop causing position thereby respectively to prevent and to permit the automatic return of one of said timers to zero position.

10. In time controlled actuating mechanism, in combination, a reciprocal actuator, an associated reciprocal actuator, a time motor conditionable to impel both said actuators, a current governing member actuated in reverse directions by respectively reverse movements of one of said actuate an associated current governing member actuated in reverse directions by respectively reverse movements of the other of said actuators,

and a circuit arranged to be conditioned variously by joint and separate movements of said members.

11. In a timing mechanism, in combination, a rotatable timer displaceable from a zero position and automatically returnable thereto, a current governor operated by said timer as it moves away from and returns to its said zero position, and means mounted to travel with said timer and shiftable to and away from a stop causing position and operative when in said position to prevent the automatic return of said timer to its zero position.

12. In time controlled circuit governing mechanism, in combination, a rotatable actuator, an

associated and coaxial rotatable actuator, a time motor conditionable to impel both said actuators during a portion of its travel, a snap toggle action electric switch having a handle pivoted for reciprocative movement and positioned to be swung by the rotation of one of said actuators, an associated snap toggle action electric switch having a handle pivoted concentrically with said first handle and positioned to be swung by the rotation of the other of said actuators, said electric switches being electrically connected to produce predetermined electrical effects in a common circuit by their joint and separate actions as motivated by said two actuators.

RAYMOND D. SMITH. 

